Cathode-ray power indicator



July 27, 1948. R. P. OWEN CATHODE-RAY POWER INDICATOR Filed Sept. 15, 1944 T 1 1 s A J-l- L 46 Mas/(54M am. INVENTOR.

max/v5) L i a July 27, 1948 SATES P OFFICE (Cl. Til-95) I 4 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for indicating power consumed by a load to which an alternating voltage is applied whether the load is reactive or non-reactive.

In carrying out the invention, voltages across a power line and across a resistor in series with the load are utilized and applied to a cathode-ray tube. A signal from the collector plate of this tube is applied to another cathode-ray tube whereby a curve can be obtained to indicate the Power.

The invention may be understood from the description in connection with the accompanyin drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows curves of current, potential and power;

Fig. 2 is a diagram of connections showing how a signal is produced; and

Fig. 8 is a similar diagram showing how the signal is used for indicating the flnal result.

In the drawing. reference character I indicates a source of alternating current that is passed through the load 2. A resistor 3 is connected between the points a and b or across the terminals of the source I, and a resistor 4 is connected in series with the load.

Primaries 6 and I of transformers are connected across the resistor 3 and resistor II. respectively. The secondaries 8 and 9 of these transformers are grounded at their midpoints. The cathodes of diodes III and II are connected to opposite ends of the secondary 8 and plates of diodes I2 and I3 are connected to opposite ends of the secondary 9. A resistor I4 is connected between the cathodes of diodes I2 and I8 and ground. and a resistor I is connected between the plates of tubes III and I I and ground.

A lead It connects the plates of diodes III and II to the cathode II of the cathode-ray tube It. The control grid IQ of this cathode-ray tube is connected by lead to the cathodes of diodes I2 and It. The first anode of tube It is indicated at 2I and the second anode at 22. A pair oi. horizontal deflection plates is shown at 24, 24' and a pair of vertical deflection plates at 25, 25'.

A lead 28 connects the point b on one side of load 2 to the plate 24 of the cathode-ray tube It. the plate 24' being grounded. A lead 21 connects the point 0 on the other side of load 2 to the plate 25 of this cathode-ray tube, the plate 28' being grounded. The screen of this tube I8 consists of four quadrants 30. 3|, 32 and 33 separated and insulated from each other. Alternate or diagonal quadrants 3|! and 32 are connected by lead 35, and the other quadrants 3i. 88 are 2 connected by the lead 34. with this tube III conditions of like and unlike polarity of two points in an electrical circuit can be ascertained regardless of the actual magnitude of their difrerence in potential.

A lead 88 extends from quadrants ti and 83 to the grid of amplifier 88. The output of this amplifier is coupled to the grid 40 o! a mixer tube 4i. Lead 42 extends from the quadrants til and 82 to the grid or phase inverter 48. The output of this phase inverter is coupled to the grid of amplifier 44. The output from the amplifier H is coupled to the grid 48 oi the mixer M.

The output from the mixer, II is coupled by lead 48 to one oi the vertical deflection plates 41 of the cathode-ray tube 48. One of the horizontal deflection plates 48 of tube 48 is connected to a source or sawtooth voltage indicated at Ill. The other horizontal deflection plate 48' and the other vertical deflection plate 41' of the tube 48 are grounded as indicated at B I The operation is as follows:

The load 2 is connected to an alternating current generator I through the series test resistor II. This test resistor is of such small value that it does not afl'ect the operation of the generator I or the load 2. Test resistor 8 connected across the terminals oi. the generator in Fig. 2 is convenient but is not necessary for the operation of the device. These resistors 3 and 4 are utilized for the measurement or voltage and current.

4 Current from generator I flowing into the load 2 causes a voltage between points a and c at the ends of resistor t which is proportional at every instant to the current flowing at that instant. This voltage is applied to the primary I and the resulting current in secondary 8 is full-wave rectitled by diodes I2 and It. thus developing a voltage across load resistor II that is or the conventional full-wave rectified sinusoid shape. This voltage is applied to the control grid I! of the cathode-ray tube It.

In the sameway the voltage across the points a and b is applied to the primary 8. The current from the secondary 8 of this transformer is rectified and the resulting output voltage across load resistor II is applied to the cathod II of tube I I.

These voltages are applied respectively to the grid I9 and the cathode I1 and determine the beam current of the cathode-ray tube I8. Diodes III and II are connected in a manner reversed from that of diodes I2 and it because the eflect of a change in potential of the cathode on the beam of the cathode-ray tube is opposite to the effect of a similar change in potential of the grid.

actuate current or generator I voltage, or both, causes an increase in the beam current of control tube l8. This change in the beam current of tube l8 resulting from a change in grid it or cathode I! potential, or both. is used to indicate power.

In order to difl'erentiate between instantaneously positive and negative power, the screen of control cathode-ray tube it is a metal target divided into four quadrants (Fig. 3). Alternate quadrants 30 and 32 are connected by conductor 33 and alternate quadrants 3| and 33 are likewise connected by conductor 34. The space between these quadrants is sufficient to keep them insulated from each other. The electron beam of tube It normally lies along the center line of this tube. The voltage of generator I is applied to one deflection plate 2d of the tube it and the voltage across the resistor d, which is proportional to the current flowing through the load. is applied to another deflection plate 25 of this control tube. So-called single-ended deflection is shown with one plate of each pair grounded.

When the voltage and currentin the load are both positive. that is, when the potential at point b and at point is positive, the electron beam it is deflected in the direction or deflection plate 26 and also in the direction of deflection plate 25, which causes the resulting deflection of the beam to be upward and to the right. The beam current is then received by quadrant 93 and a negative signal is thereby impressed by lead 30 on the grid of the tube 89. a

When the current and voltage in the load are both negative. that is, when the potential at point b and point 0 is negative. the beam i8 is deflected in the direction of deflection plate 24' and also in the direction of deflection plate 25' and the beam current is then received by quadrant iil, which causes a negative signal to be applied again to the control grid of tube 39. These negative signals are proportional to the beam current, which is determined by the amplitude of the load current and voltage in the manner previously explained. When these negative signals are impressed on the grid of tube 39 positive signals result at its plate. and are impressed upon grid 40 of mixer tube 48,

Grids 40 and 48 have identical control characteristics as far as the plate current of tube Iii is concerned, and the gain of tubes t3 and it in cascade is equal to the gain of the single stage 39.

When the load current and voltage are of unlike sign. that is, when point b (Fig. 2) is positive and-point c is negative, or vice versa, the beam of tube I8 is deflected onto quadrant 30 or 82, and a negative signal proportional to the product of the load current and voltage is applied to the grid of tube at.

When the control grid of tube 43 receives this negative signal, a positive signal is developed at its plate which is connected to the grid of tube M. This tube 44 acts merely as a phase inverter, changing the signal received from tube 43 from positive to negative and applying it to grid 66 of mixer tube ti. Since the output signal from the plate Of mixer tube ill is applied to the vertical deflection plate ll of the indicator cathode-ray \im tube at the beam of this latter tube is deflected upwardly when the beam of control tube m falls on quadrants ill or $3 and is deflected downwardly when the beam falls on quadrants til or 32 thus indicating respectively positive or nesative power in the load 2. The amplitude of deflection is determined by the beam current of control tube I8, which in turn is dependent upon the instantaneous amplitudes of the load current applied to a horizontal deflection plate of indicator tube M, a curve P of instantaneous power as shown in Fig. 1 is traced on the screen of the indicator cathode-ray tube 48.

The amplifications of the various tubes 88. ii, M and M, are such that a signal passing through tubes 89 and ill is amplified to the same extent as a signal passing through tubes at, lit and ill.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for indicating the power consumed in an electrical load, which comprises a resistor in series with said load, a resistor in parallel with said load, transformers having their primaries connected respectively across said resistors, a relay cathode-ray tube having sections of conducting material on the inside face thereof, and means connected to opposite ends of said load to cause the ray of said tube to be deflected onto said sections in accordance with the power factor of said load, the grid and cathode of said cathoderay tube being connected. respectively, to the secondaries of said transformers.

2. The device of-claim 1, in which means are provided to cause an increase in the intensity of the beam of said tube when the current through the load is increased.

3. The device of claim 1, in which means are provided to cause an increase in the intensity of the beam of said tube when the voltage across the load is increased.

4. A device for indicating the power consumed in an electrical load, which comprises a resistor in series with said load, a resistor in parallel with said load, a transformer primary connected across each of said resistors, respectively, a relay cathode-ray tube having sections oi conducting material on the inside face thereof divided into separated insulated sections, means connected from opposite ends of said load to the horizontal and vertical deflection plates of said tube to cause the ray of said tube to be deflected onto said sections in accordance with the power factor of said load, and means comprising another cathode-ray tube which has one of its deflection plates connected to said sections to indicate said load.

ROBERT P. OWEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

